Believe!!

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:12-13

The nation of Israel had the faith to be set free from the bondage of Egypt and walk through the waters of the Red Sea, but did not have the faith to enter the promised land. The writer of the book of Hebrews will set them before us as a warning.

Instead of entering into and living in the blessing of God, their continuous unbelief caused their hearts to be hardened against the Lord. The consequence of this was that they spent the rest of their lives meandering through the wilderness, never experiencing the fullness of life God had for them. This example was given to the first century Jewish believers who, because of persecution, were turning away from Christ and turning back to their old religious system. Like the Israelites who perished in the wilderness, their hardship caused them to take their eyes off the Lord and allow unbelief to keep them from entering into the fullness of God’s promises.

There are many Christians today who have the faith for salvation, but have allowed the hardships of life to cause them to take their eyes off the Lord. Like the Israelites, the trials and fear of what the future may hold causes them to desire to go back to how they used to live prior to following the Lord. This produces unbelief in their hearts and opens them up to the deceitfulness of sin. If we allow unbelief to harden our hearts, it will keep us from all the victory, power, and blessing that God has for us as we continue to walk with Him.

The weapon against unbelief is to continue to exhort one another in the reality of who Jesus is and to remind ourselves that we are partakers with Him. We share in all the benefits and responsibilities of who He is because we are one with Him as we continue in our foundational faith until the end. It is in Christ that we have everything that pertains to life and godliness which opens us to receive every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer. So, what mountainous trial is trying to cause fear and unbelief in your heart today? Remember that we are one with the All-Powerful Creator and Sustainer of all existence, who loves us so much that He was willing to come and die for our sin. If God is for us than who or what can stand against us. Believe!!! (Hebrews 3:14)